Box Score Eight innings of solid play were covered over by one bad inning Thursday, as Washington and Lee exploded for six runs in the top of the ninth to steal an 11-5 decision from EMU's baseball men.
The Royals took advantage of their opportunities early on, taking a 1-0 lead in the first when Ryan McAlister (Bridgewater, VA/Turner Ashby) reached on a dropped third strike and eventually scored on an RBI single from B.J. Mortimer (Mechanicsville, VA/Lee-Davis).
W&L scored twice in the top of the third to jump ahead, but Adam Posey (Poquoson, VA/Poquoson) singled in Phillip Jordan (West Point, VA/Christchurch) to tie it up at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame.
Each team scored three runs in the fourth, as the game stayed locked up at 5-5. Chances were few from there, as the teams sailed through four scoreless innings. That all changed in the ninth when the Generals batted around and scored six times, including three on a two-out homerun. Jordan and Posey each singled with one out in EMU's half of the ninth, but a strikeout and groundout ended the game.
The Royals had 12 hits in the game, as did Washington and Lee, but a big difference came in EMU's pitchers handing out five walks. Posey batted 4-5 out of the lead-off spot, knocking in a pair of runs. Jordan finished 3-4 with two runs and an RBI. Mortimer was 2-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Austin Oliver (Gordonsville, VA/Orange County) started but was chased in the fourth inning after giving up five runs on six hits. Ryan Henschel (New Market, VA/Stonewall Jackson) was great in relief, only allowing only one hit over four scoreless innings before wearing out in the ninth. He ended up getting charged with four runs on four hits in 5.0 innings of work, and fell to 0-2 with the loss. Senior Chris DeWald (Williamsburg, VA/Lafayette) also pitched in relief.
The tough loss drops Eastern Mennonite to 15-22 overall and 4-14 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The men close the 2013 season at home on Saturday, welcoming in Roanoke for an ODAC doubleheader. First pitch is at noon after pregame Senior Recognition ceremonies.
